Year In Review 2026: A Roll Call Of Influential Figures Who Died This Year

This year saw the passing of many figures who shaped politics, arts, science, sports and public life around the world. Among the most prominent was U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, known for his Southern drawl, pragmatic streak and hawkish foreign-policy stance; a preliminary medical examiner's report attributed his death to a tear in his aorta caused by arterial hardening. July also claimed aviation pioneer Wally Funk — who in 2021 became the oldest woman to travel into space at age 82 — and numerous other notable public figures from every continent and many fields.

Below is a month-by-month roll call of influential people who died in 2026, with ages, brief notes on their achievements and, where available, causes of death.

January

Diane Crump, 77. In 1969 she became the first woman to ride professionally in a horse race and, a year later, the first female jockey in the Kentucky Derby. Jan. 1.

Ahn Sung-ki, 74. One of South Korea's most beloved screen stars, his 60-year career and gentle public image earned him the nickname "The Nation's Actor." Jan. 5.

Aldrich Ames, 84. The former CIA officer who betrayed Western intelligence assets to the Soviet Union and Russia in one of the agency's most damaging breaches died in prison. Jan. 5.

Béla Tarr, 70. The acclaimed Hungarian director of films such as "Sátántangó" and "The Turin Horse." Jan. 6.

Glenn Hall, 94. Nicknamed "Mr. Goalie," the Hockey Hall of Famer's ironman streak of 502 consecutive starts as a goalkeeper remains an NHL record. Jan. 7.

Bob Weir, 78. A founding member of the Grateful Dead, the guitarist and singer helped create and sustain the San Francisco counterculture sound. Jan. 10.

John Forté, 50. The Grammy-nominated musician known for his work with the Fugees and other collaborations. Jan. 12.

Scott Adams, 68. Creator of the comic strip "Dilbert," he captured office frustrations until his syndication ended following controversies in 2023. Jan. 13.

Claudette Colvin, 86. Arrested at 15 in 1955 for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated Montgomery bus; her act helped spark the Civil Rights Movement months before Rosa Parks. Jan. 13.

Valentino Garavani, 93. The celebrated Italian designer whose glamorous gowns — often in his signature "Valentino red" — defined high fashion for decades. Jan. 19.

Ota Zaremba, 68. The 1980 Moscow Olympic weightlifting champion who later admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs under a state program. Jan. 23.

William Foege, 89. The physician and public-health leader who played a central role in the global eradication of smallpox. Jan. 24.

Catherine O'Hara, 71. The Canadian comic actor and "SCTV" alum who won an Emmy for her role as Moira Rose in "Schitt's Creek" and starred in the "Home Alone" films. Jan. 30.

Demond Wilson, 79. Best known for playing Lamont on "Sanford and Son," he later became a minister. Jan. 30.

February

X.J. Kennedy, 96. Award-winning poet, author and educator, known for influential textbooks and children's verse. Feb. 1.

Chuck Negron, 83. Founding member of Three Dog Night who sang lead on hits including "One" and "Joy to the World." Feb. 2.

Mickey Lolich, 85. The Detroit Tigers pitcher who recorded three complete-game victories in the 1968 World Series. Feb. 4.

James Van Der Beek, 48. Actor who rose to fame in "Dawson's Creek"; he revealed in 2024 that he had been treated for colorectal cancer. Feb. 11.

Robert Duvall, 95. Oscar-winning actor with landmark roles from "The Godfather" to "Tender Mercies." Feb. 15.

Frederick Wiseman, 96. Documentary filmmaker whose in-depth portraits of institutions reshaped the genre. Feb. 16.

The Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, 84. Civil-rights leader, protégé of Martin Luther King Jr. and two-time presidential candidate. Feb. 17.

Eric Dane, 53. Actor known for "Grey's Anatomy" and "Euphoria," who later advocated for ALS awareness and died of the disease. Feb. 19.

Bill Mazeroski, 89. Hall of Fame second baseman remembered for his walk-off home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series. Feb. 20.

Willie Colón, 75. Grammy-nominated salsa musician and social activist. Feb. 21.

Robert Carradine, 71. Actor from the prolific Carradine family, known for "Revenge of the Nerds." Feb. 23.

Sondra Lee, 97. Dancer and actor discovered by Jerome Robbins who originated roles on Broadway. Feb. 23.

Neil Sedaka, 86. Singer-songwriter whose melodies made him a star in early rock and again in the 1970s. Feb. 27.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86. Iran's supreme leader, who centralized theocratic power and clashed with Israel and the United States over regional policy and nuclear ambitions; reported killed in U.S. and Israeli military strikes. Feb. 28.

March

Kermit Gosnell, 85. The former abortion-clinic doctor serving life in prison after convictions related to deaths of infants and patients. March 1.

Lou Holtz, 89. College Football Hall of Fame coach who led Notre Dame to the 1988 national championship. March 4.

Bernard LaFayette, 85. Civil-rights organizer whose work in Selma helped lead to the Voting Rights Act of 1965. March 5.

"Country" Joe McDonald, 84. Counterculture rocker and author of the antiwar anthem featured at Woodstock. March 8.

Alexander Butterfield, 99. White House aide who revealed Nixon's Oval Office recordings, accelerating the Watergate crisis. March 9.

Nicholas Haysom, 73. Anti-apartheid activist who helped draft South Africa's post-apartheid constitution. March 17.

Michael Bambang Hartono, 86. Indonesian business leader who built the Djarum company into a major enterprise. March 19.

Chuck Norris, 86. Martial-arts grandmaster and action-star known for "Walker, Texas Ranger." March 19.

Umberto Bossi, 84. Founder of Italy's Northern League and a polarizing figure in Italian politics. March 19.

Robert S. Mueller III, 81. Former FBI director who reshaped the agency after 9/11 and later served as special counsel. March 20.

Nicholas Brendon, 54. Actor best known for his role on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." His family reported he died in his sleep of natural causes. March 20.

Lionel Jospin, 88. Former French prime minister credited with the 35-hour workweek and notable for withdrawing from politics after a dramatic election loss. March 22.

Darrell "Dash" Crofts, 87. One half of Seals and Crofts, writer of soft-rock hits such as "Summer Breeze." March 25.

James Tolkan, 94. Character actor known for authoritative roles in films including "Top Gun" and "Back to the Future." March 26.

Mary Beth Hurt, 79. Tony-nominated actress who appeared on Broadway and in films such as "The World According to Garp." March 28.

April

Jim Whittaker, 97. The first American to reach the summit of Mount Everest (1963). April 7.

Sid Krofft, 96. Puppeteer and producer who, with his brother, created cult children's television including "H.R. Pufnstuf." April 10.

Lionel Rosenblatt, 82. U.S. Foreign Service officer who organized an unauthorized evacuation of hundreds of Vietnamese before the fall of Saigon. April 11.

Asha Bhosle, 92. One of Bollywood's most versatile and influential playback singers. April 12.

Bob Hall, 74. Polio survivor, two-time winner of the Boston Marathon in a wheelchair and pioneer of wheelchair-racing technology. April 12.

Don Schlitz, 73. Country songwriter behind hits such as "The Gambler" and "Forever and Ever, Amen." April 16.

Oscar Schmidt, 68. Brazilian basketball icon nicknamed the "Holy Hand." April 17.

Nathalie Baye, 77. Celebrated French actress admired for versatility and charm. April 17.

George R. Ariyoshi, 100. Former Hawaii governor and the nation's first Asian American governor. April 19.

Dave Mason, 79. Co-founder of Traffic and songwriter of classics like "Feelin' Alright." April 19.

Alan Osmond, 76. The eldest member of the Osmond family act. April 20.

Nedra Talley Ross, 80. Last surviving member of the Ronettes, singer of hits including "Be My Baby." April 26.

David Allan Coe, 86. Country singer-songwriter behind songs such as "Take This Job and Shove It." April 29.

J. Craig Venter, 79. Geneticist who helped map the first draft of the human genome and advanced genomic science. April 29.

May

Alex Zanardi, 59. Italian racing champion turned Paralympic gold-medalist whose career included two major accidents. May 2.

Doris Fisher, 94. Co-founder of clothing retailer The Gap Inc. May 2.

John Sterling, 87. Longtime New York Yankees radio broadcaster known for distinctive home-run calls. May 4.

FILE - Wally Funk, right, describes her flight experience as Mark Bezos, left, and Jeff Bezos, left, center, applaud in the spaceport near Van Horn, Texas, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File)(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Ted Turner, 87. Media pioneer who founded CNN and popularized the 24-hour cable-news model. May 6.

Joni Lamb, 65. Co-founder of the Daystar Television Network. May 7.

Bobby Cox, 84. Manager who led the Atlanta Braves during their 1990s National League dominance. May 9.

Abraham H. Foxman, 86. Longtime leader of the Anti-Defamation League and a prominent advocate for American Jews. May 10.

Jim Colbert, 85. Golfer known for his signature bucket hat and success on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour. May 10.

Mark Fuhrman, 74. Former Los Angeles detective noted for his role in the O.J. Simpson trial. May 12.

Jason Collins, 47. The NBA's first openly gay player and an ambassador for inclusion, who died after an aggressive brain cancer. May 12.

Clarence Carter, 90. Blues and soul singer known for songs including "Patches." May 13.

Claudine Longet, 84. Singer and actor who was involved in a high-profile manslaughter trial in the 1970s. May 14.

Scott Hastings, 61. Scotland rugby international who played alongside his brother Gavin. May 17.

Toshifumi Suzuki, 93. Business executive credited with expanding 7-Eleven globally. May 18.

Barney Frank, 86. Longtime Democratic congressman and architect of major financial reforms and gay-rights visibility. May 19.

Kyle Busch, 41. Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion; family reported he died after pneumonia progressed into sepsis. May 21.

Rob Base, 59. Rapper from the duo Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock, best known for "It Takes Two." May 22.

Raymond Berry, 93. Hall of Fame wide receiver who formed a legendary partnership with Johnny Unitas. May 25.

Sonny Rollins, 95. Influential tenor saxophonist known for constant innovation across a decades-long career. May 25.

Marcia Lucas, 80. Oscar-winning film editor notable for her work on the original 1977 "Star Wars." May 27.

Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi, 80. Former president of Yemen who led a government largely from exile during a prolonged civil war. May 28.

Claude Lemieux, 60. Four-time Stanley Cup champion whose death was reported as a suicide. May 28.

June

Rick Adelman, 79. Basketball Hall of Fame coach and former NBA player. June 1.

Peabo Bryson, 75. Grammy-winning R&B singer known for Disney duets including "Beauty and the Beast." June 2.

Alex Younger, 62. Former head of MI6 who led Britain's foreign intelligence service from 2014 to 2020. June 2.

Ned Jarrett, 93. Two-time NASCAR champion and longtime broadcaster. June 4.

Marjane Satrapi, 56. Iranian-French cartoonist and filmmaker, author of "Persepolis." June 4.

Carlos Alberto Solari, 77. Argentine singer-songwriter known as "El Indio." June 5.

Bernadette Chirac, 93. Former French first lady active in politics and public life. June 5.

Bob Packwood, 93. Former Oregon senator whose career was later marred by harassment allegations. June 6.

Yohei Kono, 89. Japanese statesman who, as government spokesman, issued a historic apology for wartime abuses. June 8.

David Hockney, 88. Celebrated British artist known for vivid pool paintings and later digital works. June 11.

Ronnie Schell, 94. Comic actor best known for his role on "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C." June 12.

Gene Shalit, 100. Film critic and longtime "Today" show contributor remembered for his puns and distinctive appearance. June 12.

Oliver Tree, 32. Eccentric musician and internet personality who died in a helicopter crash in Rio de Janeiro. June 14.

Abdullah Ibrahim, 91. South African jazz icon who performed at Nelson Mandela's inauguration. June 15.

Daveigh Chase, 35. Former child actor and voice of Lilo in "Lilo & Stitch;" a medical examiner cited AIDS as the cause. June 16.

Tom Dreesen, 86. Comedian who formed one of America's first interracial stand-up duos and opened for Frank Sinatra. June 17.

Francisco Guterres ("Lu Olo"), 71. Former president and independence leader of East Timor. June 21.

Abdul Ahad Momand, 67. Afghanistan's first cosmonaut. June 21.

Alan Greenspan, 100. Former Federal Reserve chair, a contentious figure associated with both prosperity and later financial crises. June 22.

Clive Davis, 94. Influential record executive who helped launch and revive major music careers. June 22.

Ann Blyth, 98. Oscar-nominated actress and singer from Hollywood's classic era. June 24.

David Clayton-Thomas, 84. Lead singer of Blood, Sweat & Tears known for hits including "Spinning Wheel." June 24.

Martha Lillard, 78. Reported as the last U.S. polio patient still using an iron lung. June 26.

Victor Willis, 74. Co-founder of the Village People and co-writer of hits such as "Y.M.C.A." June 30.

July

Stephen Francis, 64. Jamaican track coach whose athletes won Olympic and world titles. July 4.

George E. Johnson Sr., 99. Pioneer in Black hair care whose company was the first Black-owned firm listed on the American Stock Exchange. July 6.

Bonnie Tyler, 75. Welsh singer known for her gravelly voice and the enduring power ballad "Total Eclipse of the Heart." July 8.

Wally Funk, 87. Aviation pioneer who became the oldest woman to travel into space in 2021 at age 82. July 8.

Ann Widdecombe, 78. Former British politician known for blunt conservative views; reported killed in what authorities described as a targeted attack. July 8.

Lindsey Graham, 71. Longtime U.S. senator from South Carolina and prominent hawkish voice on foreign policy; a preliminary medical examiner's report cited an aortic tear linked to arterial hardening. July 11.

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, 74. Former ruler of Qatar who transformed the nation's global role in diplomacy, media and investment before ceding power to his son. July 12.

Sam Neill, 78. Versatile actor whose career ranged from art-house films to blockbusters like "Jurassic Park." July 13.

Guy Scott, 82. Zambian politician who briefly served as acting president. July 15.

Brenda Fricker, 81. Academy Award-winning actor best known for "My Left Foot." July 16.

Garry Sobers, 89. West Indian cricketer often considered one of the sport's greatest allrounders. July 17.

R. James Woolsey, 84. National-security expert and former CIA director. July 21.

Charles Gaines, 84. Author and filmmaker whose work "Pumping Iron" helped popularize bodybuilding. July 21.

Kaylee Hottle, 18. Deaf actor known for roles in two "Godzilla" films; died in a car crash in Maryland. July 21.

Kozo Okamoto, 78. Japanese militant involved in a deadly attack on Tel Aviv's airport more than five decades earlier. July 23.

Gunther von Hagens, 81. German anatomist and controversial creator of the "Body Worlds" exhibits. July 24.

Bill Oddie, 85. British comedian who later became a respected wildlife presenter and bird expert. July 25.

Gilberto Cárdenas, 79. Respected sociologist and advocate for Latino and Chicano identity through scholarship and the arts. July 26.

Arlene Smith, 84. Founding member of the Chantels who sang lead on the 1950s doo-wop classic "Maybe." July 29.

This roll call is not exhaustive but highlights many of the influential figures who shaped public life in 2026. Ages and causes are given as reported; when causes were cited by authorities or family statements, they are noted parenthetically.